Current connection for electric lamps.



F. H. WESTON. CURRENT CONNECTION FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26. 1914.

1,209,526. I I Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I,

Inventor: Frederick H Weston,

F. H. WESTON. CURRENT CONNECTION F08 ELECTRIC .IAMPS. APPLICATION FILEDDEC.26. 1914.

1,209,526. 1 Patented Dec. 19,1916

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Witnesses Inventor Frederick H.Weston, A. a? N N Q 2A4) His Nttorne g.

F. H. WESTON.

CURRENT CONNECTION FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS. APPLICATION FILED 050.25.1914.

1,209,526. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

Fig. 9

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Inventor: Frederick H.We ston-,

Hi fitto neg.

jhhllllBDXSRlECK H. WESCEGN, 01* SCHENECTADY, 1i! EW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOGENERAL I ELECTRIC QQMPANY, all CORPORATIUN OF NEW! YORK CURRENTCONNECTION Ffiltt ELECTRIC LAMPS.

ace aces.

Specification of letters Patent.

commodities. as, rare.

Application filed December 26, 1914.. Serial No. S?9,U5l.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that l, Fnnnniuon ll-l. Wes TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State oi NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CurrentConnections for Electric Lamps, of which the followingeis aspecification.

My invention relates t0 current connec tions such as are used forelectric lamps and the like, and it includes both bases or plugs andcorresponding sockets or receptacles that are especially suitable forthe mounting and electrical connection of such lamps, though alsoapplicable and adaptable to other uses.

The invention is more particularly concerned with the transmission ofsuch relatively heavy currents as are required by high candle powertungsten filament incandescent lamps containing nitrogen or other orvapor and operating at very high elliciency. It is important that whensucha lamp is inserted in a socket or receptacle each of the connectionsnecessary to cornpl'ete its circuit should-be made ,withgcod contactover ample area, in;order that the parts shall not he.liabletoinjurionsor dangel-oils overheating, and also for other reasons. .How this andother requirements can be inc-t and various advantages obtained throngllmy invention will appear from the following discussion and from thedetailed description of particular embodiments hereinafter, while itsscope will be indicated in my claims.

in accordance with my invention, l-secure good contact and currentcarrying capacity by providing the base or plug device with terminalshaving coasting screw threaded contact surfaces and providing the socketor receptacle device with terminals having corresponding screw. threadedcontact sun faces, so that each of the connections necessary to completethe circuit is a screw thread connection. Meshing and engage nent of thescrew threads of both the base terminals with those oi the socket orreceptacle terminals when the lamp screwed into the soclret Iean beinsured by melting terminals of one oil these connection relatively toone and.

ree,

vices movable (in some do le st} those of the corrections receptacleshown. in Fig. 5.

sn't diameters or arranged The utility of the relatively movabletorminal. arrangement is not confined to a connection device all ofwhose coacting contact suri'aces are screw threaded, but extends, also,to a connection device having screw threaded terminals and plainterminal means all coasting with one another.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a mid-sectional viewillustrating a very simple lamp base and socket construction embodying,my invention. Fig. 2 is a simi a r view illustrating a difl'erentconstruction. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of a part of thestructure shown in Fig. 2. l is fragmentary view, partly in section,showing a lamp with a type of base different from that shown in Fig". 1.Fig. 5 is a mid sectional view of a. socket or receptacle adapted totake the base shown in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part ofthe Fig. 7 is a perspective exterior View of the receptacle shown inFig. the receptacle shown in F 5 and l, and substantially represents thebottom of that shown in Fig. 1 also. Fig. 9 is a mid-sectional Viewillustrating aconstruction similar to that of 5, 7 and 8, but moreespecially adapted for use in exposed situations out of doors. Fig. 10isa plan view of the lower part of the socket shown in Fig. 9. his; 11 isa view of the upper part of the socket shown in Fig. 9 as seen frombeneath.

its shown in Fig. 1, the terminals of the lamp base 1 consist of twoelectrically separate screw threaded shells 2 and o7 dillercoaxially onewithin the oth and meclian ically united hody of insrsting material 4..For the a large cavity for the end of a high e hose 1 is provided withan ed and insulated shirt 5. is and i of the lamp are Fig. 8 a bottomview of soldered tothe terminals 2 and 3 invery much the usual way. 5

The socket or receptacle 11 which receives the base 1 compriseselectrically separate screw shell terminals 12 and 13 also arrangedcoaxially one. within the other, theformer being of such diameter thatthe large base terminal 2 will screw into it easily butsnugly. and thelatter being similarly adapted to screw into the small base terminal 3.The terminals 12 and 13 are mounted on an insulating body structi'lre 14which forms a casing about them, the large terminal 12 bethe form of acup or cap-like screw shell,

and as shown it has an angular shank or stud 17 extendingdownward fromltsbottom through an angular hole 1n the base portion of the bodystructure 14 and into a" circular recess atthe lower side of saidportion. A helical compression spring 19 around the shank 17 a disk-likehead 20 secured. thereto by a screw and the bottom of theaforesaidrecess urges the terminal 13 inward away" from the mouth of theterminal The inward movement of the terminal 13 isllnnited by anmsulating washer 1n the bottom of the large terminal-12 (or, in itsabsence, by the body structure 1% itself);

while outward movement of said terminal is limited by abutment. of thehead 20 around the recess. containing the spring 19. The

rmrrerit connection to the terminal 12 is through two of the screws 15,while that to the terminal 1.3 is through the shank 17 and a flexiblelaminated. lead clamped to it by the disk or washer 20. As theseconnections are similar to those shown in Figs. 5 and 8 and hereinafterdescribed in detaihno further dc scription of them is necessary.

It will be seen that the movable or floating terminal 13 with itsassociated parts is restrained or prevented from turning; relaterminal13 from the position shown (which tively to the terminal 12 and itsassociated body structure 14- bythe engagement of the shank 1'? with thesaid body structure, and that axial movement or displacement of said isitsinormal one) is yieldingly resisted by the spring means 19. When thebase 1 1s turned clockwise to ,screw it into the socket 11, it comesinto concurrent threaded engagement with .both of the socket-terminals12 and 13; but, as shown, the threads of the base terminal 3 will meshand engage with those of the loose or floating socket terminal 13 beforethe base terminal 2' encounters the socket terminal. 12. VVhensuchencounter does take place,which is the position of the parts shown inFig. 1,the threads of the base terminal 2 will immediately mesh andengage with those of'the fixed socket terminal 33. Theerminal 32 mayterminal 12 if the angular arrangement of thci'arious terminals permits;otherwise the movable socket terminal 13 will be drawn upward furtherturning of the base 1 until such meshing and engagement can take 7Q,place; Thisaction will obviate any diilicultly that might otherwisearise from bad work manship or careless assembling; and if the socketterminals 12 and 13 are so arranged that the latter will necessarily bedisplaced against a fairly stiff, strong spring 19 of suitable scale, itwill also insure goodcontact and pressure on all contact surfaces.

If the screw threads of all the terminals are of the same pitch, thescrewing of the base 1 into the socket 11' will present no peculiarityafter both the base'terminals have come into mesh with thesockettermithe screw. threaded nals as above described, while if the threads 5of the terminals 3 and 13 are of greater pitch than those of theterminals 2 and 12, the further screwing in of the base 1,.will re-vsult in further upward movement" of the floating terminals 13 againstthe spring 19.

Such difi'ercntialthreading of the terminals 1, but it differs from the,socket -11 of Fig. 1

in that the spring mo'unted looseor floating terminal is movableangularly instead of axially. Accordingly, the shank 27 and its hole inthe bottom portion of the body structurc 21 are made cylindrical so astopermit the terminal 23 to turn, and the turning is yieldingly resistedor restrained by a springy --wi're 29"bent to an appropriate form andserving as a flexible current connection for the terminal 23. Theturning of the termi- .11 al 23 may beliinited to any desired-angle byone or more projections 30- from the shank 27 (sec Figs. 2 and 3) whichlie in one or more recesses 30 m the base portion of the. body structure24. This arrange- .ment gives an action similar to that of Fig.

'1, and offers similar possibilities as regardsdcfccts and errors in"the factory,-contac t pressure, differential threading, and dispensingwith the spring 29. Referring, now to Fig. 4:, it will at once be seenthat the base 31 here shown differs from base. 1 of Fig. 1 in that itselectrically' separate co Xial screw shell terminals 32 and are ariiinged endwise and that the screw-threaded contact surfaces of both areexternal. Preferably the pitch of the screw threads ofthe large terminal32.is greater than that of the threads of the small be of the same sizeas the screw shell of the The head of this bya screw to the-'shanli l8and till 42 and 43 base terminals 32 "I I {R ferring to Figs.

and the insulating material 34 may unite them mechanically to oneanother and to the enlarged skirt 35 in the manner illustrated in U. S.Patent N 0,775,689 to Swan, granted November 22, 1904. As shown theterminal shell 33 is not made as a closed cap like the terminal 3 ofFig; 1, but with an open lower end from which the insulation 34 projectsenough to insure'against the production of a short circuit if anignorantperson should fscrewthe lamp into an ordinary mediumscrewsocket.

Referring to Fig; 5 it will be seen that the :socket or receptacledevice 41 forthe base or plug device 31 has screw shell terminals theother with their'coaetiing internal differentially screw threadedcontact surfaces coaxial and are movable relativclytoone another whenengaging the corresponding and 33. The terminals d2 and 43 are mountedon a bodystructure d4 of porcelain, bisque, or other insulating materialwhich forms a casing about them, the large terminal 42 being fixedlysecured by screws 45, while. the small terminal 4-3 is spring mounted soas to beresiliently yield ing in an axial direction. As shown, theterminal shell 43 is in the form of soup with an angular hole in itsbottom, and it is externally insulated by an infclosing cup or capliheshell 46 of fiber, porcelain, bisque, or other insulating material. Formount ing the movable or floating? terminal 43 with its insulatingcovering 46 is employeda stud 47 (see Fig.6) formed of sheet metalsuitably punched, bent, and riveted, etc. stud -l7 lies at the bottom ofthe terminal d3 and may besoldered or otherwise fastened thereto, andits angular yol e-like shank-48 extends through angular holes in thefiarts 43 and 46 and through a similar hole at the bottom of a circularrccess in the base portion of the body structure 44, and thus theterminal 43 withvits associated parts is restrained or prevented fromturning. A heavyhelical compres sion spring 49 in this recess around theshank 48 urges the terminal 43 with its as? sociated parts outwardtoward the mouth of the terminal 4-2, and yieldingly resists axialmovement or displacement of said terminal 43' from the positlon shown,which is its hermal one.

The outward movement oi the terminal 43 is limited bv a piece 50 securedprojecting the body shank ex beyond: the edges of the hole in structure44' through which said tends, while itsinwerd m'ovement is limited bythe body structure 44 itself;

seen that the insulating ibody structure 44 through two penstripssoldered to which are arranged one within cur between the come incontact (owing to forced inward harness is provided with a pair of lugsor feet bl pierced to receive screws for securing the socket inposition, and also with lugs 52 that carry binding posts 53, 5& for theconnection of the current supply wires. From the binding post53-electrical connection to the terminal 42 is through two screws 55, ametal piece 56 in a recess at the bottom of the body structure it, andtwo of the screws45; from the bindingpost 5% it is screws 52', a metalpiece 58 with which they engage, and a flexible laminated lead 59composed of a number of these cop,-

said piece 58 and clamped to the shank 48 by the piece '50.

When the base 31 is inserted in the socket 41 and turned the socketterminals 42 and 43. Preferably thesocket parts are so proportioned andarranged that meshing and engagement oc terminals 32 and 42 before theterminal 33 encounters the terminal l3;

for with thisaction any failure of the terwhen they first minals 33 and43 to mesh detective work manship or rror in assembling the parts) willnot cause jamming, but merely result in the loose or floating terminal43 being rather rapidly by further turning ofthe base 1 until theterminal 33 does mesh and engage with it properly, Once the terminalsare in threeded engagement, further turning of the base 31. will forcethe loose or floating terminal 43 tlowly: inward at a rate depending onhow much less. its pitch is than that of theterminol 42, and the resulting progressive compression of the spring 4:9 will cause Faprogressively increasing binding effect 11 pen the engaging screwthreaded terminals. The final or limiting condition- .will preferably beat the inner limit'of movement of the terminal 43.

It will be seen that whhthebase 31 is screwed into the socket 41 untilthe floating socket terminal 43 is firmly jammed or wedged at the innerlimit of its movement,-'-the parts being, of course, so ole-- signedthat such jamming will occur belore the base terminalBil bottoms in theAgain, the pitches of all the terminal threads'maybe'made the. and d3one an; other and to the base terminals that when socket terminal 43.

some and the socket-terminals d2 purposely so arranged relatively to32and 42 and 33 and 4:3

clockwise, it comes into concurrent threaded engagement with both of wthe base is s rewed into the socket the. base teruunal 33 Will not meshand engage with the movable socket terminal 43 when .it first'eneouuters it. but only after it has forced it inward a certaindistance against the resistance ola fairly stilt; strong spring -19.Referring. now. to the socket (51 shown in Figs. 1. and ll. itwillbeseen that I the body structuria ('iland the electrical a gasket Tlbeing interposed to make the porting collar 72 is secured by screwsT3.--

joint watertiglit.while .at the lower side of said cap metal ternnnaland securing pieces 75 are secured by means of screws 7G.' The innerendsoi" the pieces 75 are in a recess in the lower side of thecap 71 and areprovided with binding screws 77 for the -2'1ttachment of current leads,while their outer ends extend beyond the periphery of the body 64 andare provided with clamp ing' screws 78. A terminal and securing piece SOwith notches S1 is secured in a depression. in the upper end of thebodytl by two of the screws 65 that hold the large socket terminal 62'in place. and a. similar piece 82 is secured diametrically opposite bynuts- 83 on studs or bolts insulativcly secured in said body (34-. y'It' will be seen that bv putting the body 6-1 in place in the cap 71(or vice versa). turning the body (or the cap) alittle in a clockwisedirection, and tightening, up the screws 78 the cap and body will besecurely fastened together and the current leads will be'electrieallyconnected to the socket termlnals. .It will-be understood, of course,

that the large socket terminal 2 is electri cally connected to the picce80 throughthescrews 65, and that the movable socket t erminal (ii-leisconnected to the other piece 82 by a T-sh-aped laminatedfiexibleconductor 69 one 'of whose ends is clamped to the shank of the movableterminal by the part .nd'whose other ends are clamped benca h the nuts83. It will be seen that the onto r edge of the cap 71 extends down' a f'und the upper end of the body 64in a sd't of hood with an annularventilating lated and cooled by means of two passages 84, 84, thatextend up around its terminal 62 as grooves in the inner surface of thehollow portion of the body structure (it and are prolonged into the.space beneath the hood as ho1es'85,yS5 -through the base portion v of said body structure.

While Ihave, in accordanceavith the requirements of the patent statutes,shown" faces of dili'erent diameters and the difie'mj ential threadingof terminals, ,the'samebeing respectively the inventions of Howard 1%.Sargent and John A.'Orange. I What I claim as new and desire tosecure byLetters Patent of the United States, 3

is: i

l. A connection,comprising a socket or reeeptacle device havn gterminals with 00- acting screwthreaded contact surfaces and abase orplug device for said socket having terminals with corresponding screwthreaded contact sm faces, the terminals of one of said devicesbeing'movable relatively to one another. I

2.-A connection device comprising terminals with coacting scre'wthreaded contact surfaces, said terminals being movable relatively toone another when coming .into on gagementwith those of a corresponding"connection device. y 3. A connection device comprising terminals withcoa'c'ting coaxial-screw threaded contact surfaces, one of saidterminals being axially movable by a tion device. j,

4. A socket-or receptacle comprising-terminals with coacting coaxialscrew threaded contact surfaces of different diameters, said. terminalsbeing axially movable relatively to one another whencomingintocngagement with those of a corresponding base.

' 5. A socket or receptaclecomprisingter minals with coat-ting screwthreaded contact surfaces, said terminals; being; resiliently yieldingrelatively to, one another, when coming into engagement with those of' acorrespondlng base. I I

6. A socket or receptacle comprising te'rminals with coacti-ng coaxialscrew threaded contact surfaces; one of said terminals being fixed andthe other spring mounted so that it may yield axially. f

7. A socket or receptacle comprising-- a fixed large terminal; parthaving internal: screw threadedcontact surfaces, :1 smaller terminalpart within the large terminal part which also has-screw threaded'contacti-surs faces and islso engaged with theslar ge terminal part asto be movable axially to a limited extent but restrained from turningrelatively thereto, ands'pringlneans'ii'rging said smaller terminal parttoward one,1imit ofits movement. I w. L

8. A socket or receptaclmcomprising a;

corresponding connecbody structure and a large screw shell terminalfixedly secured thereto, a smaller screw shell terminal within saidlarger one having a shank so engaged with said struc- 5 ture as toprevent said smaller terminal from turning whileallowing it a limitedaxial movement, and a helical compression spring about said shankwhereby said-

